One of the biggest challenges in much of my personal artwork – and that of many artists – is that I’m painting things that exist in my imagination rather than in the outside world. So I invent “models” from which I draw the imagined scene.
Do you paint from the real…
When I paint a portrait, I’m painting a person who exists (or existed). When I do life drawings (the most fun drawing of all), I sketch live models who pose.
When I was a kid, I used to set up still lifes and draw them. In school (I don’t mean art class), I used to alleviate boredom by sketching classmates. When I painted landscapes, I’d go out in the country, find an appealing scene, and paint what I saw. I might make artistic changes in the scene, but it actually existed.
You may be the kind of artist who always paints real objects from the world around you.
… or from the imaginary?
Or you may want to paint images from your imagination. If so, you may want to learn to invent “models” from which you can create the imagined scene.
An example of this is animated character designs I created for a screenplay I wrote, called ABBIE AND THE DESK DWELLERS. These characters were made of detritus from kids’ school desks – pencil shavings; dirty broken crayons; gum and candy wrappers and scraps of paper; grungy old erasers and eraser dust.
How would you approach drawing these characters?
Here’s my technique, which you might have fun trying: I did things like grinding out pencil shavings using an old-fashioned pencil sharpener. Then I shaped the pencil shavings – or the worn crayon stubs or the battered erasers – as closely as I could to the character I imagined.
It can be hard because in the real world, things like shavings can’t hold their shape standing up as they can in your imagination. Yet to make the character look real, you need to draw the shavings (or whatever you’re using) from the proper angles even if in actuality they couldn’t hold those positions for more than a split second. So it involves a lot of adjusting the objects as you continue to draw.
Have you ever created models from real world materials to draw your own vision? If so, leave a comment about your method and how it worked. If not, give it a try! It’s challenging and fun to experiment with.
Reflective surfaces
Notice the reflection of pencil shavings in the shiny metal of the protractor. What makes any reflective surface look real is that images of nearby objects appear on their surfaces – but not just anywhere.
I carefully set up a pencil shaving “leg” at the distance and angle from the protractor that my character’s leg was positioned.
Notice that the reflections appear in both the upright metal support of the protractor, and the curly metal extension that almost reaches the pencil eraser. Capturing that detail is what makes the protractor look real next to a little man made of pencil shavings.
You might enjoy practicing setting up some objects next to simple reflective surfaces. Look at them really carefully and try to replicate in your drawing exactly what you see.
Don’t bring in preconceived notions of what you think a reflection should look like – its color or shape. Any reflective shape – like the protractor’s – distorts the appearance of the object reflected in it. So just draw exactly the oddities you see, and you will find you’ve drawn a realistic-looking reflection in an object that looks three-dimensional.
But why bother with models? Why not just draw from memory?
Why bother with the hassle of setting up models? Don’t a lot of artists draw purely from memory? The answer is yes, many do.
For me, though, the everyday visual world is full of such surprises that I don’t want to just repeat from memory something I’ve drawn or seen in the past. Drawing from my memory of “what an X looks like,” by definition means I’ve developed a somewhat standardized way of seeing and drawing X. For me – and maybe for you – there’s nothing like the magical pleasure of discovering what’s unique about the particular “X” I’m drawing at that moment, and capturing that uniqueness on paper.
Reality is infinitely variable. If I hadn’t set up my shavings next to the protractor, for example, I might not have guessed that the reflection would appear in the very particular way it does over several surfaces of it. Scroll back up to the protractor closeup image above. Note how the reflection of the shavings continues down the point at the bottom of the protractor as simply a beige stripe. Notice also how the shading of the protractor itself – the grooves down its length, the white highlight at the top of its curve, the indentation around the grommet – all these intermingle with the shavings’ reflections. This interplay is what makes the protractor appear reflective and three-dimensional.
What if your subject is too large to set up a model?
I wish I had human models on retainer who I could call on at any time to dress up in the appropriate costumes and assume the emotions and positions I need to draw! I have a lot of books of models in hundreds of different positions, but I don’t recommend you spend much money on these books. It’s rare to find the exact position you need to simulate a particular activity you want to draw.
And the books don’t include the variations that come from the emotional intent of an action. Any action – say swinging an axe – shapes the human body differently if it’s taken, for example, in anger than if it’s taken in pleasure.
Before the web existed, I used to prowl libraries and magazines for photos that could serve as my models. The internet has provided a new wealth of relatively easily-found photos of people doing all kinds of activities, from shooting arrows on horseback to singing arias. Of course I’d prefer to draw from a three-dimensional reenactment. But I’ll never have a peasant chasing a soldier on horseback with a pitchfork in front of me – or an entire Mongol battle played out before me.
Next post, I’ll provide some tips on how to find images on the web that you can use as models for drawing scenes from your imagination.
Meanwhile, for Jonathan Linton’s popular video drawing demo and commentary, go here.
For a 2-part life drawing lesson, start Part 1 here.
[…] is still always from life because I find its infinite variations thrilling. So I always look for models that approximate what’s in my imagination, rather than drawing purely from memory. As I […]
Thanks for sharing yoiur thoughts on thoughts. Regards
Feel free to surf to my homepage: Chaturbate
Whats up very nice blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I will bookmark your website and take the feedes also?
I’m satisfied to search out numerou helpful information here in thhe submit, we need develop extra strategies on this regard, thank you
for sharing. . . .. .
Also visit my homepage filles nues
Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thanks
Feel free to visit my web blog :: spam robot
Geetings from Ohio! I’m bored to death at work soo
I decidred to browse yyour site oon my iphome during luncxh break.
I really like the info you proide here and can’t wait to take
a look when I get home. I’m surprised at hhow fast your blog loaded on myy phone
.. I’m not even usinhg WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, wonderful site!
Loook at my homepage; MyFreeWebcam
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed!
Extremely useful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such information much.
I was seeking this certain info for a very long time.
Thank you and ggood luck.
Have a look at my blog post; Tressa
I do consider all the ideas you have presented to your post.
They’re very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts
are too quick for novices. May just you pllease extend theem a bit from subsequent time?
Thanks for the post.
My page extraordinary teen nudes
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I lso am a blogger, aand
I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange techniques with other folks,
please shoot me an e-mail if interested.
my webpage; Cam4
Hi there, I want to subscribe for this blog to obtain latest updates, thus where can i do it please help
out.
Feel free to visit my web sitye Chaturbate
I loved as muuch as you will receive carried out right here.
The sketch iss attractive, your authored material stylish.
nonetheless, you command get bought an edgoness over that you
wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerlly again as exactly the same nearly a lott often inside case you
shield this hike.
Stop by my page :: nude models
Hi, i fel that i noticed you visited my site thus i cam to
return the favor?.I am trying to to find issues to
enhance my website!I assume its adequate to use some of your ideas!!
Feel free to surf to my webpage: http://luthierdrum.com.br/
Hello Dear, are you really visiting this websitee daily, if so after that you will
definitely take fastidious experience.
Feel free to urf to my web site chaturbate.llc
Hi, i think that i saw you visited myy site so i came to “return thhe favor”.I am trying tto find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use a few oof
ykur ideas!!
Here is my blog – filles nues
This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!)
Fantastic job. I really loved what you had to say, and
more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Great blog you’ve got here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays.
I really appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Here is my webpage :: Trachycarpus Fortunei
This design is steller! You most certainly know
how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos,
I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job.
I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented
it. Too cool!
I blog frequently and I genuinely appreciate your information. This article has
truly peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your website and
keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your Feed too.
You have made some really good points there. I looked on the web to learn more about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this site.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger
if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it
much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more
often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
Outstanding work!
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
My site covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
There is certainly a lot to know about this topic.
I really like all of the points you’ve made.
cialis everyday buy cialis toronto cialis at a discount
buying canadian pharmacy verified canadian pharmacy online canadian pet pharmacy
pharmacy technician degree online canadian pharmacies compare canadian pharmacy advair
canadian pharmacy cialis brand price of cialis at walgreens cialisis online
Yes! Finally something about you.
Hello, just wanted to mention, I liked this blog post.
It was inspiring. Keep on posting!
I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
I like the valuable info you provide for your articles.
I’ll bookmark your weblog and take a look at again right here frequently.
I’m fairly sure I will learn plenty of new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the following!
Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog.
Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but
I can figure things out pretty quick. I’m thinking
about setting up my own but I’m not sure where
to start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?
Appreciate it
Hey very interesting blog!
Hi there, its pleasant paragraph concerning media print, we all be aware
of media is a wonderful source of information.
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old
daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed.
There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Everything typed was actually very logical. But, think about this, what
if you added a little information? I mean, I don’t want to tell you
how to run your blog, however suppose you added a post title
to possibly get folk’s attention? I mean How to create models for drawing
the imaginary « Portrait Artist from Westchester, NY – Anne Bobroff-Hajal is kinda plain. You should
peek at Yahoo’s front page and watch how they
write post headlines to get people to click. You might add
a related video or a related picture or two to get people excited about what you’ve written.
In my opinion, it might bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
I really like your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did
you hire someone to do it for you? Plz reply as I’m looking to
create my own blog and would like to know where
u got this from. cheers
Hi there, this weekend is good for me, since this occasion i am reading this fantastic educational post here at my residence.
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve be mindful your stuff previous to and you are simply extremely excellent.
I really like what you have received right here, really
like what you’re stating and the best way through which you
assert it. You make it enjoyable and you continue to care for to keep it smart.
I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great site.
Wonderful post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
Kudos!
I am sure this paragraph has touched all the internet viewers, its really really fastidious article
on building up new website.
Thanks for sharing such a fastidious opinion, post is pleasant, thats why i have read it fully
sildenafil 25 mg cost buy viagra online canada pharmacy real viagra from canada
Hello, I would like to subscribe for this webpage to obtain most recent updates, so where can i do it please help.
No matter if some one searches for his essential thing, therefore he/she desires to be
available that in detail, therefore that thing is maintained over here.
This design is spectacular! You most certainly know
how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos,
I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!)
Fantastic job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you
presented it. Too cool!
Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get
there! Appreciate it
I’m not certain the place you are getting your info, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time finding out much more or figuring out
more. Thanks for fantastic info I was looking for this information for my
mission.
Hi there Dear, are you actually visiting this site daily, if so afterward you will absolutely take good experience.
Hi there, I log on to your blog daily. Your humoristic style is witty, keep it up!
It’s very straightforward to find out any matter on web as compared to books, as I found this paragraph at this website.